Lease
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Billing itself as “Seattles Own Rock Opera,” Lease is the improv fusion of Rents themes with the Emerald Citys stereotypical “characters.” After requesting audience input on a Seattle location and disease du jour (opening nights production featured narcolepsy and the Pike Place Market), the cast adapts a plotline, and musical numbers to accompany it, while you watch. Using the first night’s performance as a sample: When trust-fund-baby-turned-landlord Jeff Paiges ex-girlfriend peddles his possessions on the Internet in revenge, he sells his building to the Market as a part of plans to demolish the apartments, making room for longer fish throws. Lust, rather than the legal issues attending short-notice evictions or the tragic narcolepsy-related death of one of his tenants, changes Jeffs mind about the sale in the end. “I Get So Pissed Off” and “I Called Dibs on a Life Worth Living” were among the nights memorable musical gems. The live score by Chris Lundgren is as unobtrusive as it is skillfully executed. Nick Edwards, Douglas Willott, and Christopher A. Dewar shone the night I saw the show, but every performances dynamic is different, and the ensemble promises enough talent to share the spotlight. (Younger patrons should be advised of the shows R rating for language.) VIRGINIA ZECH 8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri. Ends June 20.
Thursdays, Fridays, 8 p.m. Starts: June 5. Continues through June 20, 2008
